LIVABLE LANDSCAPES An Open Space Plan for Northampton County a Mike Handzo Former, City of Easton Northampton County Council: Brian Harris Bushkill Township L V P C Darlene Heller City of Bethlehem Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Margaret Ferraro, President* Gordon Heller Northampton County Mike Jones Retired, Jacobsburg Environmental Education COMMISSION STAFF Glenn A. Geissinger, Vice President* Center, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation Mathew M. Benol Kent H. Herman, Esq., Chair Kevin Lott Becky A. Bradley, AICP, Executive Director and Natural Resources Hayden Phillips Ellen Lott The Nature Conservancy Seth Vaughn Liesel Dreisbach, Vice Chair Richard Molchany (alt.) Ray Mack Northampton/Monroe Farm Bureau George G. Kinney, AICP, Director of Transportation Planning Kenneth Kraft Matthew Marks Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors Stephen Repasch, Treasurer Christina V. Morgan Robert Werner Scott Parsons Northampton County Council member Eric C. McAfee, AICP, LEED AP, Director of Community Planning Lamont G. McClure Jr.* Pamela Pearson Crayola, LLC Lynn Prior Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley Norman E. Blatt, Jr., Esq. Thomas Muller Scott Parsons* *County Council Parks and Open Space Committee member, Brian Rodgers Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living Geoffrey A. Reese, P.E., Director of Environmental Planning Diane Rosencrance Natural Lands Trust Christen T. Borso Thomas J. Nolan Scott Parsons Chair Stan Rugis Northampton County Bruce R. Rider, Director of Administration Claire Sadler Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor/ John Brown Sara Pandl, AICP, RLA Northampton County Open Space Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape Mike Stershic Discover Lehigh Valley Shannon Calluori (alt.) Salvatore J. Panto, Jr. Tracy L. Oscavich, Associate Director of Development Advisory Board: Lori Sywensky Northampton County Mary Tirrell Lehigh Valley Health Network Gordon Campbell Edward Pawlowski William H. Deegan, Architectural/Urban Designer R. Michael Topping, Chairperson Mike Topping Northampton County Open Space Advisory Board Isidore C. Mineo, Vice-Chairperson Jim Wilson Former, Northampton County Conservation District Eugene Clater Pamela Pearson, MBA Sandra Yerger Heritage Conservancy David E. Manhardt, AICP, Chief Geographic Information Systems Planner Judith Henckel Pamela Denise Kistler Richard Young Former, Northampton County John N. Diacogiannis, CPCU Hayden Phillips Victoria Bastidas Ben Holland, GISP, Senior Geographic Information Systems Planner Northampton County Staff: Robert Donchez Lynn Prior Claire Sadler Ngozi Obi, Senior Community Planner Diane Donaher Director, Department of Community and Economic Percy H. Dougherty, PhD Kathy Rader Many people were instrumental in the development of this Plan. Development Their time commitment and input were greatly appreciated. Lori Sywensky Deputy Director, Department of Community and Karen Duerholz Michael Reph Teresa Mackey, Senior Environmental Planner Economic Development Steering Committee: Bryan Cope Open Space Coordinator, Department of Charles W. Elliott, Esq. Tina Roseberry (alt.) Susan L. Rockwell, Senior Environmental Planner Administration Sherry Acevedo Former, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Maria Bentzoni Farmland Preservation Administrator, Department George F. Gemmel Lisa Scheller Corridor/Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation of Administration Michael S. Donchez, Senior Transportation Planner Landscape Stan Rugis Director, Department of Public Works Steven L. Glickman, RA, NCARB Kevin Schmidt Maria Bentzoni Northampton County Gordon Heller Superintendent, Department of Public Works, Parks Gabriel F. Hurtado, Community Planner Kristen L. Sanford and Recreation Division Armand V. Greco Lori Sywensky (alt.) Bernhardt, Ph.D. Lehigh Valley Research Consortium – Lafayette College Business Interviewees: Darlene Heller, AICP (alt.) Elinor Warner Alice J. Lipe, Graphics & Publications Coordinator Ralph Carp City of Bethlehem Silas Chamberlin Former, Pennsylvania Department of Adam Fairchild Owner, Easton Outdoor Company Edward D. Hozza, Jr. Donna Wright Kathleen M. Sauerzopf, Executive Secretary Conservation and Natural Resources Tomias Hinchcliff President, Genesis Bicycles Bryan Cope Northampton County Rob McVeigh Marketing + Event Coordinator, Robert A. Lammi Christine Dettore Wildlands Conservancy, then Pennsylvania Genesis Bicycles Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Steve LaBrake Owner, Saucon Valley Bikes Cindy Glick Just Born, Inc. Layne and Beth Klein Klein Farms Dairy + Creamery b Cover photo courtesy of Becky Bradley, LVPC c Publication date November 19, 2015 Contents 2 Executive Summary 8 Introduction 34 County Profile 44 Inventory + Assessment 122 Vision, Goals, Policies + Implementation Strategies 150 Implementation Tools 172 Appendix d Photo courtesy of Alice Lipe, LVPC 1 Executive Summary 2 Photo courtesy of Alice Lipe, LVPC 3 Purpose of the Livable Landscapes Plan Accomplishments Many valuable open space resources worthy of discovery and Livable Landscapes – An Open Space Plan for Northampton County • 56 projects were funded through the Municipal Park Acquisition trol, habitat and soil formation/retention estimated at $201.7 million preservation exist throughout Northampton County—scenic moun- is an update to the current County parks plan—Northampton Coun- and Development component, totaling $5.94 million. or more each year in Northampton County. tains and farmland views, river corridors and large forests, parks and ty Parks – 2010 published in November 2002 by the Lehigh Valley • Trails were constructed in the City of Easton, Palmer and historic sites. These features are an integral part of a high quality Planning Commission. Since the publication of that plan, many tasks Bushkill townships and Tatamy and Stockertown boroughs as Air Quality: The total annual avoided healthcare costs and damage of life. Northampton County (County) residents have long been have been accomplished and milestones reached that further the ad- part of the effort to connect the City of Easton to the Kittatinny to agriculture and buildings provided by Northampton County open interested in open space resources as documented through public vancement of the open space network in the County. These accom- Ridge. space is estimated to be $27.8 million. opinion surveys by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) plishments prompted recognition from the Pennsylvania Land Trust • Seven municipalities in Northampton County approved a in 1974, 1988, 1999 and 2010. The 2010 survey revealed that Association, which in May 2015, awarded Northampton County the 0.25% Earned Income Tax for the preservation of farmland and Outdoor Recreation: An estimated $351.2 million is spent on nearly 73% of the respondents agreed that more parks, recreation 2015 Government Conservation Leadership Award for leadership in natural areas since 2005. outdoor recreation each year in Northampton County. Recreational facilities and open space are needed. Northampton County voters the conservation of particular landscapes and crucial natural resourc- • The County farmland preservation program preserved activity on open space in Northampton County creates an estimated also have strongly supported state and County referendums to fund es. A few of the key accomplishments are: 10,000-acres by 2008, and the 100th farm was preserved in 4,518 jobs both inside and outside the County. These jobs generate the creation of parks, protect important natural areas and preserve 2010. about $27.1 million in state and local taxes. farmland. In a survey of active registered voters conducted specif- • Northampton County was selected in 2004 by the Department • In 2010, the farmland preservation program created the Town- ically for this Plan, two of the key findings are: 1) Protecting lakes, of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to pilot a new ship Partnership Program. Property Value: The average premium afforded each home within ¼ rivers, streams, and preserving water quality were most frequently conservation landscape initiative, leading to the formation of • 13,920 acres on 152 farms, totaling $17.73 million, were pre- mile of protected open space is $15,400 in Northampton County. (71%) ranked the highest priority for the County, and 2) 95% of the Lehigh Valley Greenways, a two-county partnership that strives served through the Farmland Preservation component. respondents strongly agreed or agreed that protecting farmland in to connect natural and cultural resources across the Lehigh Public Participation the County is important. Recent population growth and land use Valley. Benefits of Open Space st changes show the region is experiencing a strong development trend • The Northampton County 21 Century Open Space Initiative To gain an understanding of the needs and opportunities related to that puts pressure on open space resources and, if not managed (Open Space Program) was established in December 2004 to Open space plays a vital role in many aspects of Northampton open space in the County, the public participation process to develop properly, could impact much of what residents find appealing about preserve natural areas, assist municipalities in the acquisition County’s quality of life by: 1) protecting the environment, 2) providing Livable Landscapes included multiple components. The main ele- the County. and development of parks and recreation sites, and provide community needs, 3) generating economic activity, and 4) providing ments used to solicit input were